Round Three was full of excitement and correct results (see picture).
But I am not going to wear my little fingers to the bone typing a preview of this week’s matches when Deebee7 has already done it! Or, if you’re bored with the World Cup, you could look forward with him to the 2024 summer tours.
You would think that Duhan and Darcy have good try scoring records, then you hear that Jordan has 24 tries in 27 appearances. And that’s in an AB’s side that’s not supposed to be particularly good.
Might have spoken too soon, about a comeback. From the restart, Italy get charged down from a box kick and Rentaghost ends up driving over with the ball.
NZ get a penalty on the edge of the Italy 22 and opt for a scrum. They go right and with BB on his shoulder, DMac shrugs off Garbisi to score. He also converts.
Italy knock on from the restart. Jordan puts a chip into the 22. The ball bounces and Savea gathers. As he’s tackled, he gives it to Jordan, who scores his second. Dmac converts.
AL-B scores the 14th try. Off the top of a lineout in the middle of the pitch. Coles breaks, he gets a call on the inside and Roigard legs it down field. AL-B is on his shoulder to score.
Ooh, Italy score right at the death. Monty Ioane is judged to have gotten the ball down just before he goes into touch, after a nice offload from Odogwu. Garbisi converts.
A bit scary, that, tbh. Italy not a bad side, but a little loose early on, and then it’s the same old story once they are more than 2 scores ahead, they can just throw it around. Could see them putting 50 + on most teams on a good day, except maybe the other top four sides.
France, Wales, Scotland and Argentina have all conceded 50 at least once and some 40s.
Ireland have conceded 40 twice (only have to go back to 2012 for a 60)
Australia 40 only once (Wales can do that!), but the last 50 was only in 2021 (they play them a lot)
South Africa no 40+ scores, but last 50+ only in 2017
England are the only team they can’t do it to (last 40+ in 2008, only one 50+ ever). Better make sure you don’t play them until you’ve sorted yourselves out a bit more I reckon.
NZ have put 50+ on Wales the last two games and 40+ four out of the last five. I’ll still believe they’ve got it in them even once we’ve beaten them in the semi-final…
Ovally Balls 
My main worry about the tour next summer is whether we’ll have any players left standing by the end of it.
LikeLike
Could that cross-kick have been any more on the money?
LikeLike
That Jordan lad’s not bad, eh?
LikeLike
You would think that Duhan and Darcy have good try scoring records, then you hear that Jordan has 24 tries in 27 appearances. And that’s in an AB’s side that’s not supposed to be particularly good.
LikeLike
Tommy Allan is on 100% for the RWC
LikeLike
Jordan kinda reminds me of Ben from Accounts – not overly flash, but very, very good at what he does.
LikeLike
Jordan got 5 against Tonga in one match and a hatrick against USA – 15 tries in 11 tests in 2021
LikeLike
Ah, he’s a flat-track bully ;)
LikeLiked by 3 people
Rumours of New Zealand’s demise might have been premature…
LikeLike
deffo BB, but Italy aren’t exactly helping themselves
LikeLike
Italy aren’t even defending
LikeLike
Oh dear, NZ running more than a point a minute, as Savea just glides through the defence to score.
LikeLike
All Blacks going at a point a minute here. Make that a bit more. Italy getting absolutely battered here.
LikeLike
28-3 on 23 mins.
LikeLike
Crowley may have said that teams are catching up to the All Blacks, but Italy aren’t one of them.
LikeLike
Italy don’t need four converted tries to take the lead. If we’re being optimistic.
LikeLike
BB, I think Italy have a Fiat gearbox there. This is a massacre for a supposedly top side.
LikeLike
Italy need more than four converted tries.
LikeLike
Hat-trick for A.Smith. Jordie Barrett breaks the line and Smith is there as beneficiary.
42-3 on 35mins.
LikeLike
Oh, Taylor was fingertips away from a spectacular hooker score there.
LikeLike
Savea gets his second, off the back of a maul in the 45th minute.
49-3 at half time.
LikeLike
Ouch. Poor Italy.
LikeLike
ah! – right you are, then …………………………..
LikeLike
Romania for the 6N?
LikeLike
Italy try!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LikeLike
G’wan Italy! The comeback is on, as Capuozzo scores in the corner.
Thought they’ve blown that, when NZ drove their maul backwards.
49-10. 49mins
LikeLike
Sam Whitelock on for his 149th(!) cap.
LikeLike
Oh Italy! Give up a try immediately.
LikeLike
Might have spoken too soon, about a comeback. From the restart, Italy get charged down from a box kick and Rentaghost ends up driving over with the ball.
56-10. 51mins
LikeLike
NZ 8 looks like he his prop in the head a few minutes back.
LikeLike
Good lord, NZ just drove the Italy scrum back 5 metres.
LikeLike
Ooh, that feels a little harsh on Roigard there.
LikeLike
NZ get a try anyway. Lineout is well overthrown, Telea breaks the line and manages to offload to Papali’i who scores.
63-10 56mins
Sam Cane on for Papali’i.
LikeLike
Dane Coles gets a walk-in, shortly after coming on. NZ go to the short-side, after looking like they’re setting up a maul.
68-10. 62mins. Mo’unga misses his first kick of the night.
LikeLike
NZ get a penalty on the edge of the Italy 22 and opt for a scrum. They go right and with BB on his shoulder, DMac shrugs off Garbisi to score. He also converts.
73-10. 68mins.
LikeLike
This is just ridiculous now. Every bounce of the ball is working for them.
LikeLike
Italy knock on from the restart. Jordan puts a chip into the 22. The ball bounces and Savea gathers. As he’s tackled, he gives it to Jordan, who scores his second. Dmac converts.
82-10. 70mins
LikeLike
Gotta love WIll Jordan . The backspin on that chip was really nice.
LikeLike
Coles gets a second. Tap penalty in the Italy 22 and they spin it wide and it’s few steps to score.
89-10. 74mins.
LikeLike
SBT – he’s such a wonderfully unfussy player.
LikeLike
AL-B scores the 14th try. Off the top of a lineout in the middle of the pitch. Coles breaks, he gets a call on the inside and Roigard legs it down field. AL-B is on his shoulder to score.
96-10.
LikeLike
Italy break up field and get all the way to the NZ line, before they’re penalised for a Garbisi neck-roll on Savea.
LikeLike
Roigard’s got quite an interesting pass. He really seems to swing his arms as he lets the ball fly.
LikeLike
Ooh, Italy score right at the death. Monty Ioane is judged to have gotten the ball down just before he goes into touch, after a nice offload from Odogwu. Garbisi converts.
Final score 96-17.
LikeLike
Italy were going well in the second half until they were daft enough to score a try.
LikeLike
A bit scary, that, tbh. Italy not a bad side, but a little loose early on, and then it’s the same old story once they are more than 2 scores ahead, they can just throw it around. Could see them putting 50 + on most teams on a good day, except maybe the other top four sides.
LikeLike
In their last 5 games against NZ:
France, Wales, Scotland and Argentina have all conceded 50 at least once and some 40s.
Ireland have conceded 40 twice (only have to go back to 2012 for a 60)
Australia 40 only once (Wales can do that!), but the last 50 was only in 2021 (they play them a lot)
South Africa no 40+ scores, but last 50+ only in 2017
England are the only team they can’t do it to (last 40+ in 2008, only one 50+ ever). Better make sure you don’t play them until you’ve sorted yourselves out a bit more I reckon.
LikeLike
So some solace for Italy there I suppose, but they were definitely a bad side last night and 96 is an embarrassment.
LikeLike
NZ have put 50+ on Wales the last two games and 40+ four out of the last five. I’ll still believe they’ve got it in them even once we’ve beaten them in the semi-final…
LikeLike
rugby world seems a bit stunned this a.m. …….
LikeLike